Washington Irving Elementary School

18101 North Western Avenue

School District

Edmond
Grade

PK, K-5
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:17
Type

public

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on August 13, 2023

If you are not white nor black, be ready to be discriminated. Twin Oak neighborhood is also not good. The Edmond education board was notified and nothing was done.
Submitted by parent on February 28, 2020

This is our first year at Washington Irving and I have to say I am so highly impressed. My son loves it here. I have yet to meet one rude person, not one. Everyone here has been so kind and caring. My son is in Mrs. Collins class this year and she has been the highlight so far. She is so sweet and is such a good teacher. My son went from being pretty behind and unwilling to try at the beginning of the year to impressing me with his knowledge daily. He's found a new love of reading and reads words to me all day long everywhere we go. This I can only attribute to Mrs. Collins. She quickly realized where he needed help and worked to catch him up. Even when he has a behavior issue at school, his teacher is so gracious when dealing with him. I feel so blessed to have someone teaching my child that truly has our children's best interest at heart.
Submitted by parent on November 22, 2019

I just have to let you know that last night was extra GREAT! Was at the musical from the 50's......the era I was in Enid High School.......Just know that this great-grandma enjoyed all of it.............could hardly 'sit still'!!! Cudos to all those who were in charge!!!! YOU ROCK! Thelma Travis....great-grandmother to EVA & ETHAN.............AND ELI!
Submitted by parent on April 20, 2018

As a military family, I can say Washington Irving is the best school my children have ever attended. The teachers are extremely approachable, quick to respond to concerns, and go above and beyond for our three children. Mrs. Frank and Mr. Engelke are the most involved leadership I have ever seen. You can always see them around the school, participating in school events, during and after school. Washington Irving is a Great Expectations Model School for 13 years now! They work hard to instill integrity, responsibility, empathy, respect, and acceptance among the student body. The teachers share an excitement for learning with the students that has been unmatched by any other school my children have attended! Washington Irving has all the resources in place for those with learning differences. Wonderful school psychologist, speech-language pathologist, school counselor, gifted education specialist, reading specialist, special education teachers are all available! The PTO is insane! They are constantly working (seriously you will see them up at the school EVERY day) to make the school better than it was the year before. I think if you ask any teacher or parent, they would agree we have the best PTO. We are moving this summer, and we will greatly miss WI. But if we move back to Oklahoma, we will definitely look for a house that would allow us to go back to WI!
Submitted by parent on February 16, 2016

Great teachers, great parents, great kids! This is a Great Expectations model school. My boys have gone all through elementary school here.
Submitted by parent on December 10, 2015

This school has been a wonderful place for my children to learn and grow. The teachers let the kids move around and work together which promotes happiness in the classrooms. The teachers truly care about each individual child! They are a Great Expectations Model school which means that the values of respect, courtesy and integrity are prized. I can't say enough good things about this elementary school!
Submitted by other on June 21, 2015

I loved this school and would have suggested it before Principal Dougherty. However in the fourth grade I was taught by a teacher who punished me multiple times during the year because she believed students known to be troublemakers when they told on students, and refused to punish them when they broke the rules.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2014

Maybe this was an awesome school ten years ago. It definitely isn't now. Teachers act like they don't have time for parents and every issue gets smoothed over with "well, that doesn't fit our definition of XYZ issue (bullying, etc.)" " he or she's doing just fine," "don't worry - this won't happen again" I have seen children fighting in a really rough manner on the playground as monitors lug around giant Sonic drinks instead of caring for children; they literally don't have their hands free to help with anything, drag their feet worse than the students and look put the moment you ask about interacting more at recess. Management of the lunch room is a disgrace with absolute chaos at every single meal time; children run wild. Staff management leaves much to be desired, and I have seen classrooms left unattended after lunch. Students were encouraged to make a human sundae of their principal in a ridiculous display as a fundraising activity. There is very little respect fostered at this school on the whole and staff seems to just be going through the motions. Parking is horrendous too. You have to be at least 20 minutes early for any school activity or you won't find a spot. Subpar.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2014

My son is a 5th grader, he has been at Washington Irving since the 1st grade. WI has been a wonderful place for him to grow both academically and socially. He has had outstanding teachers each year. The PTO has been one of the greatest assests, the parents are extremely involved and caring. Schools are what you make of them - I am a working parent who is extremely involved and invested in this school.
Submitted by parent on June 06, 2013

We have had 2 children attend WI and, as a whole, love the school and the atmosphere. We are very sad to be moving to the new elementary school being built (Frontier). I say "on the whole" because this last year is the first year that we have had problems with a teacher. This teacher told our daughter that I was "fired from the PTO." She came home in tears because of it. The response was, "Just joking." My child learned this year however, I feel as though she taught herself for the most part. With the proper teacher, she could be more advanced than she currently is (as evidenced by her previous years with teachers who challenged her). When a teacher asks a parent, "Do you think they need to be in Enrichment?" there is a problem. Isn't part of the job of the teacher to help determine that? All in all, a very frustrating year with this one teacher but all of our other experiences were wonderful. The new principal has big shoes to fill and had a rather rough year but give her some time. I think that she will turn out just fine.
Submitted by parent on May 03, 2013

Washington Irving-This is the worst school I have ever encountered. I work with schools in my professional life all across OK and this schools teachers and administration for the most part have the attitude that they are better than everyone else. They believe they can do what they want and when they want and do not have to answer to anyone. They believe they are above the law. I would never send my child to this school knowing what we know now. Don't expect to reason with them as they know everything about everything. We have had to get our attorney involved due to their lack of common sense regarding several issues ! One of our daugters teachers, Mr Williams refuses to answer our emails regarding our child. I suppose his job is more important than the rest of us. Mr Williams has tattoos on his hand and if the military will not enlist those with tattoos that show than what is this school administration thinking by hiring someone who has tattoos showing. Our kids are looking up to these people, seriously do you not have better standards than this ??
Submitted by parent on October 03, 2011

This is an amazing school with fantastic teachers!! I have had one son attend this school and one still attending, and I credit a great deal of my oldest son's success in middle and high school to Washington Irving!
Submitted by parent on September 15, 2011

Will be pulling my children OUT of this school! We were led to think it was one of the best, but fell VERY SHORT of our expectations. The staff is rude and really has a superior attitude toward parents, thinking they know what is better for your child than you do. I am an active, involved parent. Have served on committees, been a homeroom mom, spent time and plenty of money...but can no longer tolerate the arrogance. We have been lucky with a one good teacher. That is the only good thing I can say about Washington Irving school. The parking lot (pick up/ drop off) is a nightmare- it is a miracle that a child has not been run over. No parents are allowed to help- this is the way things are done. I have serious concerns about who is really allowing all of this behavior at this school. Complaints are lodged, not addressed to my knowledge. I can honestly say, I never dreamed an ELEMENTARY school could be so cold.
Submitted by parent on March 21, 2011

While our experience may not be the norm, we have found the teaching staff at Washington Irving quite arrogant. I believe they are genuinely interested in children to the point of imagining themselves as above the parents. The drop off and pick up situation is also horrendously disrespectful of parents and the surrounding community. In general we have found the general atmosphere to be self congratulatory and without real facts to back it up. The curriculum is simply far behind other states. Oklahoma children will continue to struggle to compete in an increasingly tight job market until this school gets real.
Submitted by parent on January 18, 2011

Amazing school, principal & staff! My kids have ADHD, were often getting in trouble at their previous private school & struggled academically & socially. We've been at WI since 11/2010 & I have never heard any of my 3 kids utter a single negative comment about their new school. Nor have I received any phonecalls or notes from teachers about anything negative! The kids LOVE going to school & look forward to it every day. The teachers are committed to the school mission statement, "Learning for All, Whatever it Takes", and it shows! Great sense of community. Very organized school. Top quality teachers. Super kids! Our transition was super-easy also...the ladies in the front office were very helpful, cheerful & welcomed us from day one. We are so pleased with WI!